Can I spread the virus to my partner even if no warts are present?

Yes the virus can still be spread to your partner even if no warts are present. Most of the time you do have visible sypmtoms they are just to microscopic to see. That''s what happened to me. You couldn't even see mine until a vinegar solution was placed on them to bring them out. Once you haven't had an outbreak for about a year then you are not contagious with spreading the genital wart strain (low-risk types). But you might still be able to pass on the high risk starins to your partner. These can cause cervical cancer for women. When a person has HPV they most likely have more then one type strain. People with HPV usually have MANY types. So most likely the virus will be spread.

People, please calm down! I have had genital warts, it is treatable, it will NOT ruin your life. These things are hardly life threatening! Some types do increase the risk of cervical cancer, but so long as you have regular smear tests then even this is no problem. If you have warts, go the the doctor, get rid of them, and get on with your life. People who write alarmist messages about an ''EPIDEMIC' (such as the RN above) and such like need to think about what they are saying, this is NOT HIV, its not even as bad the flu!! it's a little bit of extra skin that u can get taken off. where's the need to panic? Many many people are carriers of this virus (around 40%) so you do not have an obligation to tell your new partners that at some point in your life u had this virus - chances are theyve already come into contact with it lots of times and will either develop the symptoms or not.So: stop making this out to be bigger problem than it is, and CALM DOWN!

To answer this question, it depends how you define "present"....HPV is spread and manifests itself as a lesion or as we know it genital wart. If there are no warts present at all meaning there are none there watsover, then No you cannot spread it, however, if you define present as simply you can not see them, then yes you can spread them. Remember, warts usually start off as small skin bumps and then progessively grow. It can be safe to assume that you are not contagious if you have had no visible warts for an extended period of time but this doesnt necessarily mean there are none there at all. The strains of HPV that attack the genitals are no different than the strains of HPV that infect other parts of your skin such as fingers or feet plantar warts, the belief that genital warts in themselves are more contagious them common warts is false....but the act of having sex, when high amounts of friction is being performed, and the skin on your penis is stretched creating almost cracks (the same idea applies for woman)...this is what makes the warts more contagious-- but the actual strain is not. If a girl were to give a guy a handjob with a palm covered in warts, then he would probably contract a low risk strain of HPV.

Well..I''m confused.I am only 15 and I have had genital warts since i was about 8 or so.I never have had any sexual contact with anyone..and well i cant anyways.So i dont know how i could have gotten them.They say that rarely, people can be born with them but i really have no clue.So maybe someone could have had them and not of known, but it all just seems so unlikely...

Well... here''s the thing. It differs from HIV in the way that it is not a Genital Warts disease. It is not carried in the blood or in the semen. To actually contract HPV you have to come in direct contact with the infected area. And you can manually stimulate your partner and not get it. You can not get HPV on other parts of your body such as your hands. Anus, vagina, penis, and in theory orally - but there haven't been many studies proving the oral part! Yes condoms will prevent the spread of HPV - however I got HPV in the foreplay part of sex. I am a gay man and during foreplay my penis came in contact with the infected person. We had anal sex and used a condom and the only place that I have had subclinical and visable warts were on the head of my penis. The condom protected me from having anal warts. And if you do your research you will find that the largest % of doctors believe that it is highly unlikely to spread the warts while that are in a dormant status. I've only had one outbreak a year ago and it was treated and have been outbreak free since. Also, there is a vaccine in the 3rd stages of study... which means it just waiting to receive the go ahead from the FDA - which could take 5 wks to 5 years. Of course that doesn't help you... it's not a cure but you HPV FREE partner could take it and remain HPV FREE! Everyone's happy... they don't have to worry about getting it and you don't have to worry about not "getting any"! Anyway.... Some of the answers below I feel are very uneducated answers so do your own research! The above is just my research on it... take it as you will! Christopher, OKC - OK

There is an article on the "Optimistic Links" page that suggests that many people completely eliminate the virus from the body after several months or years. It''s been over 10 years since I had visible warts and I've had 3 new partners since then (yes, I warned them) and they never developed any symptoms whatsoever.

I got the virus in the 80''s and my partner had no evidence of warts. In 1989 I found out I had cancer of the cervix and cancer with carcinoma in site to of the vulva. I has a skinny vulvectomy done and a lazar done on my cervix. I am telling you all of this because I feel that this is a very devastating disease, one that has robbed me of a normal sexual life. I have been responsible with my sexual life and have choosen not to have sex. This has caused me great pain and frustration. I think that HPV is a disease that is not something that goes away, I have just found out I have a cancer spot the size of a dime on my vulva again. This means the virus is still active. So please be careful,be responsible think of others. No one diserves to have to live this way! I did get 2 strains of the cancer causing HPV...it took 8 years to show up! So, how do you know what strains you got or when it might pop up!Just something to think about!

DOCTORS DON''T EVEN KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS ONE. I PERSONALLY DO NOT KNOW EITHER. BUT GENERALLY I THINK THAT AS LONG AS THE PAP COMES UP NEGATIVE AND YOU PARTNER GETS AN OUTER EXAMINATION BY A DERMATOLOGIST IF A GUY (CAUSE GP WILL GENERALLY SAY THOSE LITTLE MOLES OR BUMPS ARE NOTHING) OR OBGYN IF A GIRL PLUS ACETOWHITENING IF THEY HAVE HAD IT BEFORE OR AN ABNORMAL PAP IN THE PAST AND (AND HPV DNA TEST IF SHE CAN IF SHE HAD IT BEFORE, BUT DOUBT IT CAUSE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE CHEAP AND IT CAUSES UNNECESSARY STRESS TO PEOPLE DOCTORS THINK SO YOU..) AND YOU USE A CONDOM YOU HAVE DONE ALL YOU CAN DO. MOST CLINICS LIKE PP WON'T EVEN GIVE AN HPV DNA TEST TO WOMEN. EVEN AT THE GYNO IT IS USUALLY ONLY ADMINISTERED TO WOMEN OVER 30. 75% TO 90% OF PEOPLE HAVE IT SO GOOD LUCK AVOIDING IT, BUT OF COURSE WE ALL LIKE TO TRY OUT BEST AND TO THINK OF OURSELVES AS THE 25% TO 10%. REMEMBER CONDOMS PROVIDE PROTECTIONS AGAINST OTHER VERY SERIOUS STD'S BUT NOT REALLY AGAINST HPV OR HERPES BECAUSE THEY ARE SKIN DISORDERS THAT LIVE IN THE SKIN. THERE ARE ALSO FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES-SEE MY POST ON THIS UNDER WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE OR SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS. BRIEFLY THEY CAN BE 1) ACUMINATUM -POINTY GROW ON MEATUS, OR INSIDE LABIA ASSOCIATED LOW RISK.2) PAPULAR - FLAT DOME SHAPED, SMOOTH TOP AND SKIN OR DARKER COLORED. LOOK AND FEEL LIKE MOLES. GROW ON SHAFT OF PENIS OR IN KERATINIZED SKIN LIKE WHERE HAIR GROWS. ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH RISK TYPES 3) FLAT AKA SUBCLINICAL- NOT VIVISBLE TO THE EYE- THESE CAN BE ON EITHER KIND OF SKIN KERATINIZED OR UNKERATINIZED CAN BE HIGH RISK 4) KERATOTIC - HORNY LIKE WARTS THAT GROW ON EITHER SKIN TYPE. USUALLY LOW RISK. GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

i had a wart about a month ago, had it frozen off, been back recently and she said I am clear at the moment, obviously i still have the virus but no warts in or outside.. my partner performed oral sex on me, even though i haven''''t got any, will he develop them in his mouth? and then pass them to me by kissing me?

According to some people on this site, we should just probably go somewhere in a corner and die. Cool! If you have warts, we''ll start an elite club for lepers. Some of you people are crazy, you need to wake up. There's a difference between being educated and being retarded. If it were an "epidemic" as some of you have stated, then there would be fundraisers like some of the AIDS one's that they have, you'd hear about it in the news everyday, and they'd have HPV bracelets to help raise awareness. Stop ruining other peoples lives by creating fear. That's what this country is being run with, and it's creating all sorts of problems. Be responsible and give it time. If it were a life long infection, if everyone carries a virus for life and never get's rid of it, then we'd all be dead a long time ago. Chill out

"MALES WHO DO NOT HAVE WARTS ARE CARRIERS AND CAN transfer the virus through their SEMEN." Just cause this sounds stupid... People can either show signs of HPV or be carriers. this is the same for herpes.

Someone typed that condoms protect you from HPV. ABSOLUTELY FALSE! I am an RN and there strong evidence showing that HPV can still be transmitted EVEN WHEN USING A CONDOM. Let''s make this clear, so that people do not foolishly believe that by having 'safer sex' with a condom that they will not contract this disease. YOU CAN (AND PROBABLY WILL) CONTRACT HPV WHILE USING A CONDOM AND PRACTICING 'SAFER' SEX. And, I repeat, condoms DO NOT PROTECT YOU FROM INFECTION!!!!! HPV (all strains) is HIGHLY contagious. In fact, the only way to guarantee no risk of infection is to have one sexual partner who has NEVER had sex or foreplay with ANYONE other than you. This is an epidemic... and people shouldn't take it so lightly.

Of thirty strains of HPV which have been identified, only two cause genital warts. HPV that causes visible and raised genital warts is harmless.Genital warts do not cause cervical cancer. there is no link between the two. However, people that have genital warts may have more serious types of HPV as well.

The answer to this question, despite what many people are going to say, is most likely NO. My gynecologist and other health professionals have assured me that this is theoretically possible but they have not seen it. The warts are the manifestation of the virus. If warts are present, the virus is said to be "active." The warts contain the disease and account for its transmission. If you get rid of any warts, and even use protection, you are NOT going to transmit it. This is an upside to treating yourself and being careful. I even asked what would happen if I had no warts and DIDNT use a condom, and my gynecologist said it is likely I wouldn''t even spread it then. Of course I'd use a condom if I were going to be sexually active but the warts are what spread HPV. It is possible I guess to have microscopic warts but this is rare. HPV is spread through skin-to-skin contact when warts are present.

Yes, My girlfriend found some warts on her, I thought it would be nothing. But when she was sure that she had something I went to the doctor and confirmed what i read about on the internet. After researching the topic EXTENSIVELY I found that MALES WHO DO NOT HAVE WARTS ARE CARRIERS AND CAN transfer the virus through their SEMEN.

Let''s make a distinction between "no warts present" and "no warts visible".

It is entirely possible to have warts present but not visible to the naked eye.

The reason that infections are spread, more than likely, is that there are warts PRESENT but not VISIBLE i.e. the person doing the infecting has no idea that he or she has an infection to begin with. In that case there's little that can be done because the person carrying the virus doesn't know he or she has it. Some people have great immune systems that are able to hold off the virus so that it doesn't become a big wart.

There is some serious question as to whether or not you are contagious after you have a clinical i.e. visible, bout of warts (or 2 or three) and they are treated and then don't come back. The theory is the longer you remain wart free, the less contagious you are. This theory supposes that if you don't have constant recurrences (as about 20% of the people who get HPV do) then your body has learned how to supress and attack the virus and most doctors will tell you it's probably very unlikely you are contagious. Unfortunately they cannot say for sure, so, if you've had it, it would be wise to inform anyone you become intimate with that you've had it. But of course you can have them do some research and see that if you've been outbreak free for a long time, chances are their risk is very low, at least for the strains that produce visible warts. As for the others, well, there's no way to even guess at the risk really except to assume it's there.

Yes, you can. Whether or not warts are present, you can spread the disease to others. It''s the same as having HIV and not feeling any symptoms, the virus are still in your body and your cells. Think about it.

I dont know if you can or can''t. I think everyone in the US has this crap. Why waist your time and ruin your reputation and say something to a new person if they already have it, or, you can't spread it anyway if the warts are present. I don't think doctors even know what they are talking about, all doctors are fake. Number one rule...don't get drunk and have sex, it ruins your life!

yes. ive been with this guy since august and started developing warts. when I checked his penis, there wasn''t anything, however it looked like he might have something on the scrotum or between his scrotum and the back.

yes.. now don''t be stupid like me and give the virus to the next person, and don't have oral sex. I can tell you that because I hold the facts in my freaking mouth. I have RRP (throat warts. Don't listen to this 'not common crap' everyone is saying. Don't say no one told you so.

I was with a "Virgin" who had alot of urinary disorders. Urinated alot, had to take alot of pee breaks. I never before had this issue. About a month after we had sex for the 1st time I found myself also urinating alot more often in the same type of pattern she had. She had previously done "other" things with her last boyfriend whos loyality is questionable. She had an abnormal pap not to long afterwards which turned out to be hpv. I have no warts, she has no warts. but this brings a question as well as an answer and a statement as well. People call themselves "virgins" doesn''t mean they've done "nothing". HPV is contracted orally or any other sexual or Genital Warts transferred way also. Question now is does it often have those types of effects? frequent urination,etc? I was blamed for it but I find myself wondering still if it was my fault. I didn't have those effects until quite a while after she, and she had been doing that since we met. Regardless we're both in the same boat now. Guess even waiting 3 months isn't safe enough to go without protection. and is there a cure? ANYWHERE?

A MUST READ..........YES.u can spread the virus to your partner even though there arnt any present warts.Some say that you cant but the fact is that its not PROVEN.So untill you know for a fact please for you partners sake dont.....its a very big chance.

People, please, some of you seem to be just trying to lie to yourselves. Saying you cant spread a virus that runs insdie you through semen or Genital Warts and that you can only spread through skin contact? I don''t know wether to laugh or cry about that one and the ignorance it implies. Maybe a doctor even told you that, which is the most scary part. Think about it with a little common sense.. skin leads to what? Blood...Blood leads to what? Semen.. No visible signs means nothing, how many times has it mattered in the past? Can you see HIV? No. So why would you risk that? There is a general sense of obligation that most people posess in regards to caring about other people, about common courtesy..You are obligated to tell someone you care about BEFORE you have any type of sexual relations that you have this. Do you want it? No. So you can rest assured they don't as well.. So the question is how much do you really care? If you cared as much as most say they do, then it should be worth it to you to risk loosing that person before endangering them. If thats what it took to keep that person safe or unafriad, then so be it. If they find out AFTER, your done anyway and now your just the person who helped hurt them in a way well beyond emotional and thats how you could be remembered. Remember, alot of people have this, in telling them you may even find suprises yourself, maybe they had a harder type, then you could have 2 now or maybe you even may have the same type in which case your honesty would shine forever. Don't wait until your naked in bed and getting ready. I know how hard it is, believe me. But it's the price we MUST pay to care and to stop the ignorance.

i was told tooo no warts no passing- and when I got it he had warts- explains where i got mine- there is a new article in womans world magazine- stating avoid sex until no warts are visible-basically use your judgement- take echinacea for 8 weeks off for 2 then start again- vitamin c - and stop smoking !!! take care

yes of course like any std it can spread and when people say its not possible to spread it orally shoot they are wrong, because like many others it has happened to me and the pain in unbearable. Be smart, be safe, and never believe that there are no consequences

Reading through everyone''s answers OUTRAGES me and it comes to no surprise that genital warts is the most common STD in our country!! I think that everyone should EDUCATE themselves before posting answers to these questions.

YES YES YES, genital warts can be spread even if no warts are present...even if they have not been present for years. It is a virus that NEVER goes away and will ALWAYS be in your body. Therefore, it CAN always be spread, but not 100% of the time. It is not spread through body fluid transmission, only throughskin-to-skin contact. Condoms help but if you're having sex, sometimes your bodies can still touch (i'll always remember my professor freshman year in college saying "ladies, even his balls smacking into you during sex can spread genital warts!!)

So, please, everyone...educate yourself as much as you can. Read every article on the internet possible about genital warts BEFORE giving advice, BEFORE answering someone's questions and BEFORE having sex with a new partner. ALWAYS discuss it with your partner...and if you feel uncomfortable doing so, you probably shouldn't be having sex anyways!!

Although I agree much of what i have read here, I believe information from a non-medical community can be misleading and it is always best to direct people to the most reliable source known of. The above referenced website is the national institute of health, a US Government organization, I know, US Government isn''t always the most trustworthy source, but I can't imagine an ill motive regarding genital warts. Anyway, the site says, NO, the HPV virus that causes finger warts is not the same virus that causes genital warts. Yes both are HPV, all warts are HPV, but only some strains cause genital warts. So, always better safe than sorry, but apprently hand/finger/feet warts wont cause genital warts.

I dont know if you can or can''t. I think everyone in the US has this crap. Why waist your time and ruin your reputation and say something to a new person if they already have it, or, you can't spread it anyway if the warts are present. I don't think doctors even know what they are talking about, all doctors are fake. Number one rule...don't get drunk and have sex, it ruins your life!

Yes, you can spread warts even when there are none visible. The virus may still be present in your skin and may be in areas that are not covered by a condom, but likely to be in contact with your partner during sex. After at least one year with no warts, it is safe to assume the virus is dormant, but there are no gaurantees.

Yes men can have warts up inside the penis and woman can have them up inside the vagina and you cant see them but they are there!!! And 16 and 18 that cause cancer can''t be seen. SO NO UNPROTECTED INTERCOARSE OR ORAL SEX !!!

Strains such as 16 and 18 are high risk strains but cannot be transmited to other parts of the body, (16 has an exception with the mouth).....but even a common wart is possible to be transmited to the genital area..its true not all stands but you can still have a "common" wart on your penis/vagina.

YES. you could get if from being molested as a child, you could get it for reasons no one even knows. Oral, anal, Genital Warts, vaginal... I''m convinced you can get this from a dang toilet seat.. It is highly contageous. No symptoms means nothing.. Ignoring it only makes you part of the problem, be part of the solution. Don't just sleep around and hope for the best. For Gods sake, get a cure for men already! thats why so many women are geeting it in the first place.. 70-90% of women can beat it.. men are just stuck.Wheres the sense in that? cure the women so they can get it back from the 70% of men that have it? Theres two sexes here people, we all need a cure! And for God sake please somoene shut up the Catholic church who has deemed that we not be allowed the "KNOWN" vaccine for children in fear that it may "encourage premarital sex" who are they to decide?! OMG it's ridiculous! If I have a child and he or she gets it, I'm coming for you, and you better be praying cause your gonna need it!

MY G/F HAD NO VISIBLE WARTS- I NOW HAVE THEM. I DONT KNOW IF THEY CAME BACK BETWEEN HER CHECK-UPS OR....WE HAD UNPROTECTED SEX WHILE SHE WAS BLEEDING- WE THINK THAT MAY IT- Genital Warts TO BLOOD. YES IT IS IN YOUR BLOOD. IT MAY BE DORMENT, AND THE PERSON MAY NEVER HAVE AN OUT BREAK-BUT YOU WILL SPREAD IT- YES,YES & YES

their is always a chance that you can spread it I got genital warts right before i became egnant i began using aldara and they got a thc treatment from my gyncologist and when i got the treatment she said the warts basically went away on their own but it still is a chance you can spread this at any time you are unable to see you cervix so you could still have warts and not even know it unless a health care provider has informed you your completly wart free cervix and all i dont think you can spread it but make sure you dont have any on your cervix anywhere period to have unprotected sex just to be on the safe side

to the person who had it frozen off and now is worried that he gave it to the girl.

The answer is probably not. Warts are caused by type 6. These warts are usually "low risk" type, do not cause cancer. She had the high risk type of HPV which causes cancer. You probably have the high risk also either because you got it when you contracted the low risk type or because she had it and gave it to you .... the high risk type does not produce warts ....

I had a wart frozen off in the fall of 2007. It was completely gone by September, 2007 and my Dr. told me I could start having sex again once the wart was gone. I have had numerous a couple partners since then and I recently started having sex with my new G/F in May and she has now been diagnosed with cervical cancer. I can''''t not think that I had something to do with her getting cancer.

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